Ezekiel 4: 9 – 17
‘School for the performing arts’ Part 2
9 “Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it. 10 And your food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it. 11 You shall also drink water by measure, one-sixth of a hin; from time to time you shall drink. 12 And you shall eat it as barley cakes; and bake it using fuel of human waste in their sight.” 13 Then the LORD said, “So shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, where I will drive them.” 14 So I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now; I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has abominable flesh ever come into my mouth.” 15 Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.” 16 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, surely I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread, 17 that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away because of their iniquity.”
Have you ever been nagged, err, encouraged, to eat better. I enjoy eating a balanced diet from the major various food groups, you know; pizza, cheese steaks, hoagies, and tacos. Hey they come with good vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce. Well, anyhow, my body led me to understand that I needed to add some more variety to my diet.
I am sure you have seen this at your local supermarket. – 7-grain bread. My goal to eat better would involve the selection of quality meats and cheese on this healthy bread and in no time whatsoever I will be ready to do my next triathlon.
You don’t buy my description for improvement? Then how about I tell you that I am now attempting to eat like the prophets of old. Well, at least a little bit like them.
In the beginning of chapter 4 we read about our Lord instructing Ezekiel to do some unique acting. He was told to lie on his left side for 390 days and then turn and lie on his right side for 40 days. Some might at first think that the Lord was going to keep Ezekiel from moving for over a year. This is not what the Lord was informing His prophet to do.
In the medical field a person who is bedridden for some time needs to have someone come and help them move their muscles and joints. I believe the medical term is atrophy, where the body part wastes away from non-use. It is a use it or lose it principle.
As we see in this section of chapter 4, our Lord required Ezekiel to perform this command for a few hours each day to show the people God’s message. Ezekiel had to do other tasks during the day such as preparing his meal, drinking, and eating his food. So, he had to be mobile for other times of the day.
We read in verse 9 about the mixture of various ingredients to make bread. The six ingredients were not concocted to help a health conscious person but to indicate the condition of survival food due to the horrors and ravages of war. In other words from the start of the siege onwards into captivity, the Jewish people would experience a short supply of food.
The purpose of this recipe of 6 mixed grains and the Lord’s following instructions indicate the limited amount of available food. The various grains were all to be baked together in some form of bread. Don’t forget this food Ezekiel obtained was obtained from the fields of Babylon. ‘Barley’ cakes were the poor man’s food of that day.They did not have a local supermarket to go and shop like we can today. People under the conditions of war will put together anything that they have.
The small portions allocated to Ezekiel were to vividly portray to the people of Israel what the current residents of Jerusalem would be going through. The exiles now in Babylon of course had it bad when they themselves had directly experienced in past days the atrocities of being taken captives. However, it sadly was not as bad as what the Jews in Jerusalem would have to go through.
Jerusalem would be cut off from outside supplies of food. This action by the enemy caused the inhabitants of the city to ration their food and water at first. This allocation at first was about a half a pound of bread and a pint of water. Even these small amounts of food eventually ran out and it is beyond anything you could imagine in what the people turned to in order to survive. If you have a chance and would like to really read about the horrors of this incident I encourage you to obtain the book of Josephus who wrote in vivid detail everything that happened.
Our Holy Spirit does not pull any punches when He describes to us the depravity of our sinful lives living in a condemned world. Let’s look at Deuteronomy 23: 13 – 14 where he points out issues of human wastes.
“13 and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse. 14 For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you.”
This let’s us know in very graphic terms our Lord’s view of human body functions. So much for using your bathroom at home for a reading room for the Scriptures, don’t you think?
The people of Jerusalem would have to use human waste as fuel due to the siege. That is why our Lord instructed Ezekiel to use human dung to cook his bread. This message would also be twofold towards the Jews living in exile. The Jews who would be taken captive would eat ‘unclean’ food while being cast into the nations.
Hosea 9:3 speaks about this. It says, “3 They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria.”
In the book of Daniel we also read about this fact of unclean food in verses one through 20 of chapter 1 and how it is so meaningful.
“1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.” 11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed[b] them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.”
In order to portray the fate of His unfaithful nation the bread would be called ‘defiled’. The truth our Lord was revealing to His people was that from the start of the siege onwards into captivity the people would experience short supplies, lousy food, and uncleanness.
Ezekiel kept quite and obeyed the Lord’s directions but when he heard about using human waste to cook his bread he cried out to the Lord. He had been obedient without any protest until this instruction from God. He was so appalled at the thought of using human waste that he made this protest to the Lord. Ezekiel pointed out that he had taken great effort to keep himself ritually clean even from childhood. He had not eaten meat from any animal that died naturally nor from any animal that was killed by wild beasts as specified in God’s teachings.
Exodus 22: 31 tells us this, 31 “And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.”
Leviticus 11:39 instructions from God are, 39 ‘And if any animal which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until evening.”
Leviticus 17: 15 says,15 “And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean.”
Leviticus 22: 8 reports, “8 Whatever dies naturally or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the LORD.”
Ezekiel also maintained his distance from allowing anything that was considered ‘abominable flesh’ as God taught through His Word.
Isaiah 65:4 says, “4 Who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; who eat swine’s flesh, and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;”
Leviticus 7:18 informs us, “18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, nor shall it be imputed to him; it shall be an abomination to him who offers it, and the person who eats of it shall bear guilt.”
In Leviticus chapter 11 verses 4 – 8, 10 – 20, 23 –31, and 41 – 43 speak to us a lot regarding unclean and abominable things,
“4 Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 5 the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 6 the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 7 and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.”
“10 But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. 11 They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. 12 Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales—that shall be an abomination to you. 13 ‘And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, 14 the kite, and the falcon after its kind; 15 every raven after its kind, 16 the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; 17 the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; 18 the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; 19 the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 20 ‘All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.”
“23 But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you. 24 ‘By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening; 25 whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening: 26 The carcass of any animal which divides the foot, but is not cloven-hoofed or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches it shall be unclean. 27 And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening. 28 Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is unclean to you. 29 ‘These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.”
“41 ‘And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. 43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them.”
Ezekiel was horrified to think that he would sin against God by tainting his body by something ‘unclean’. This shows us the character of Ezekiel. He was dedicated to obeying God in all things. God graciously conceded to his petition.
The Lord as indicated in verse 15 allowed His prophet to use cow dung instead of human waste. People in third world countries as a method of heat and cooking even today use the use of cow dung. They add a little straw and it burns as fuel. It doesn’t smell too good though. We should stop and reflect for a moment on how blessed we are today. We complain of the costs of fuel and rightly so, but yet we need to contemplate on what other people in the world are having to go through. Do you think they would eagerly be willing to trade places with us?
I remember after doing a mission trip to Romania during their revolution and experiencing what I am sharing with you regarding shortages of supplies. After being home for a day I went to the grocery store for my wife. While picking up some lunch meat there was a lady who was giving the deli person a tongue lashing for her meat not being thin enough. In Romania the stores didn’t have any food whatsoever in them and here at this store the food was so packed that it was falling on the floor. Need I say any more?
The term ‘Each day at the same time you will eat it’ seems to say a lot more upon examination. It means ‘from time to time.’ In the book of 1 Chronicles 9: 20 to 25 we read this,
“20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him. 21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 22 All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. 23 So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment. 24 The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and south. 25 And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time for seven days.”
Don’t forget that Ezekiel was studying to be a priest. He was familiar with this past information of the priesthood. The passage indicates a recurring action taking place at the same time each day. The purpose of this was to make it a recognized activity in front of those who came to observe his behavior.
A good example of this action is the ‘changing of the guard’ at Arlington National Cemetery. They change the guards at the tombs of the unknown soldiers like clockwork. If you ever take a trip to Washington, DC make sure you see this activity. It is very impressive.
A question I will ask for you is this, why would our Lord give these awful directions to Ezekiel? If He wanted to show actual conditions that will happen to the citizens of Jerusalem, then a second question would be, then why did He relent? The answer reveals our Holy Lord’s Awesome Wisdom and Righteousness. In order to draw attention to the actual conditions that would happen, our Magnificent God described to the Jews through His prophet to the truth of conditions. Once that was done, and the shock that came to the people through Ezekiel’s words and actions, then the concession by our Lord could be made. All this that was happening through Ezekiel were examples and symbols of actual events. Ezekiel and the Jews on thinking of these things were to understand the upcoming real judgment that was going to happen to Jerusalem.
It is good to just go slow and consume the words of the Scripture. Many times we take for granted the verses that we read and do not dissect them enough. For example, the statement in verse 16 that reads, ‘I will break the staff of bread’. This statement is an amazing accumulation of wisdom in a single sentence. ‘Staff of bread’ means what? A staff was something a person would lean on if he was tired or wanted support. Our Lord explained to the people that He was going to take away the daily blessings which people take for granted and which they lean on for survival. There are billions of people in the earth even today and our Lord feeds us all daily, even though this is a cursed earth. These are things we need to take to heart, meditate upon, and pray with thanksgiving to a Wonderful Loving God. Take time to do that this week.
